Nā Koa Football Banquet Honors 2012 Warriors

HONOLULU – (Hawaii Athletics) University of Hawai‘i football head coach
Norm Chow announced the 2012 award winners at the annual Nā Koa Awards Banquet,
Sunday, at the UH grass practice field. In a break from tradition, the dinner
was held on-campus under a large white tent with a luau-themed reception.

Defensive back and kickoff returner Mike Edwards was
the recipient of the Alec Waterhouse Most Valuable Player Award. The junior
from Cleveland, Ohio was among the nation's leaders in kickoff return average
(30.4) and passes defended (17) and is one of the favorites for the Mountain
West's Special Teams Player of the Year award. Earlier this season, he set
school single-season and career records with three kickoff returns for
touchdown and ended the season with interceptions in the final two games.

Offensive player of the year honors went to true
freshman center Ben Clarke, who started all 12 games. The Littleton, Colo.,
native helped to anchor the line and finished the season with 12 pancake
tackles and allowed only two sacks. He was one of two true freshmen nationally
to start the season at center.

Fourth-year defensive linemen Paipai Falemalu and
Haku Correa shared defensive player of the year honors. Falemalu, of Hau‘ula,
O‘ahu, tied for the team-lead with 56 tackles, including 10.0 for loss. He also
had five sacks and two fumbles recovered. Correa, of Honolulu, led all
defensive tackles with 37 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

For the second time in is career, long snapper Luke
Ingram received the special teams player of the year award. The Mililani, O‘ahu
native played and started all 52 games of his career – including every snap –
and did not have a bad snap that resulted in a miss or blocked kick.